The wildfire situation in south-west France is continuing to worsen. Around Bordeaux, thousands of emergency services personnel are battling the flames, which are spreading rapidly due to the dry conditions and wind.

In France alone, around 250,000 people have now been forced to leave their homes, campsites or holiday accommodation. Nationwide, more than 110,000 hectares have already been burnt – more than ever before by the end of July in any given year.

Huge areas of forest have been destroyed, particularly in the Gironde department. In some places, the fires are now only about 15 kilometres from Bordeaux. Although there are no plans to evacuate the city, concerns are growing that the fires may spread further.

In Spain, further evacuations are taking place, particularly around Madrid and near Valencia, due to a number of wildfires. Thousands of people are affected. The fires are also taking a heavy toll on wildlife, as many animals are unable to escape the flames quickly enough.

There is no sign of the situation easing. The next heatwave is set to arrive as early as Tuesday, with temperatures reaching around 40 degrees in some regions. This is likely to cause the drought and the risk of forest fires to increase further.